Throughout this project, we researched and explained Sickle Cell Anemia which is an abnormal form of hemoglobin that causes the red cells to become rigid, and sickle-shaped. Normally, red blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible enough to move easily through the blood vessels. If you have sickle cell disease, your red blood cells are crescent- or “sickle”-shaped. These cells do not bend or move easily and can block blood flow to the rest of your body.

Me and my grouop started off by doing the research portion to make sure we fully understood our disease and had all the facts we needed. We went into depth and discovered our genetic code and how it changes from TGA-GGA-CTC-CTC to TGA-GGA-CAC-CTC. We discovered where translation and transcription occur as well as many other things. 

     CONTENT

What Is Sickle Cell Anemia?

Changes the shape of red blood cells making some of them shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These cells are rigid and sticky, slowing and even stopping blood flow in veins. People who have sickle cell disease inherit two faulty hemoglobin genes, called hemoglobin S — one from each parent.

Transcription

A gene’s DNA sequence is copied to make mRNA. Different enzymes work together to do the transcribing. The helicase splits the DNA into two strands creating the replication fork. Then RNA polymerase connects to the DNA strand and starts attaching complementary mRNA nucleotides to the split DNA. After the whole gene has been transcribed the mRNA strand disconnects and the DNA strand is sealed up.

Translation

The mRNA codes for amino acids. It starts by mRNA attaching to the ribosome the tRNA and mRNA match. The codon from mRNA connects with the anti-codon from tRNA. When the codon and anti-codon connect it releases amino acid. The amino acids come together to form a polypeptide chain. When the stop codon is releached the chain leaves the ribosome and goes into protein folding.

DNA

The molecule inside cells that contains the genetic information responsible for the development and function of an organism. Its a self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. 

Protein Folding

During protein folding there are 4 steps, primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. In the primary structure it refers to the linear sequence of amino-acid residues in the polypeptide chain. Secondary structure is generated by formation of hydrogen bonds between atoms in the polypeptide backbone, which folds the chains into either alpha helices or beta-sheets. The tertiary structure is the geometric shape of the protein, it has a polypeptide chain as a backbone, with one or more secondary structures. Lastly, the quaternary of a protein is the association of several protein chains or subunits into a closely packed arrangement. 

mRNA

Is a type of single-stranded RNA involved in protein synthesis. mRNA is made from a DNA template during the process of transcription. The role of mRNA is to carry protein information from the DNA in a cell’s nucleus to the cell’s cytoplasm, where the protein-making machinery reads the mRNA sequence and translates each three-base codon into its corresponding amino acid in a growing protein chain.

tRNA

Is a small RNA molecule that plays a key role in protein synthesis. Transfer RNA serves as a link (or adaptor) between the messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule and the growing chain of amino acids that make up a protein. Each time an amino acid is added to the chain, a specific tRNA pairs with its complementary sequence on the mRNA molecule, ensuring that the appropriate amino acid is inserted into the protein being synthesized.

Conclusion

Things I did Well I feel throughout the project I did well on my communication and conscientious learning abilities. With my communication, I was being a very good listener and writer. Whenever my group members were talking I made it my job to pay attention and listen to what they were saying. On our research portion of the project, I felt I did a great job at finding research and making sure to write it all down. Then, with my conscious learning, I was really on top of time and planning ahead. 

Things I Could Improve On Even though we had a great project, there were always things to work on. I think I could have done a better job at my collaboration and critical thinking. For my collaboration I don't think I took the leadership role as much as I should have, I never really took action and led the group.  Also, with my critical thinking, I should have gone into question more about my answers. At times when I would find my answer I would just stop there, next time I should look into it further. It's all about my solution finding and what I can do with my answers.